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MARCH 2011
NEW!
SOCCER COA COACHING ACHING P PRACTICES FROM ENGLISH FOOTBALL FO OOTBALL L LEAGUE MANAGERS AND COACHES
BLACKPOOL
IAN HOLLOWAY
PREMIER
LEAGUE POSSESSION •PASSING•POSITIONING•POSITIVITY Exclusive Training practices nal from top professio managers
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CRYSTAL PALACE
YEOVIL TOWN
LINCOLN CITY
LMA AMBASSADOR
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
DOUGIE FREEDMAN Supporting from deep
TERRY SKIVERTON Overload attacking
STEVE TILSON Passing patterns
IAIN DOWIE Back four understanding
ANTHONY HUDSON Technical training
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Elite Soccer is published by:
ISSUE 08 MARCH 2011: FROM THE CHAIRMAN N Green Star Media Ltd Meadow View, Tannery Lane Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AB, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894 Fax: +44 (0) 1483 894 148 Email: elitesoccer@greenstarmedia.net Publisher: Kevin Barrow Editor: James Evans Contributing Editor: Matthew Amos, LMA Design: Jimmy Egerton Illustrator: Richard Palmer Customer Services: Duncan Heard Operations Director: Toby Curthoys Managing Director: Andrew Griffiths Photos: Action Images
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League Managers Association The Camkin Suite, 1 Pegasus House, Tachbrook Park, Warwick, CV34 6LW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1926 831 556 Email: lma@lmasecure.com President: Fabio Capello Chairman: Howard Wilkinson Chief Executive: Richard Bevan This publication is protected by national and international copyright laws. Elite Soccer will take legal action against any individuals or organisations found to be infringing our rights, and will make that action public. Elite Soccer members who have purchased this report may circulate electronic or hard copies to members of their own club or school, provided this is done without commercial gain. However, no part or whole of this report may be circulated elsewhere or displayed on any website or distributed commercially except under licence from the copyright owners. © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved
2 MARCH 2011
Inspirationalsoccer sessions fromthegame’s big thinkers Dear Coach, I hope hop you enjoy the March issue of Elite Soccer. occer. Once again, we offer the insight and collective ctive wisdom of six experienced managers and wisd d coaches in the English game who have coac produced sessions that will benefit your team. From the Barclays Premier League, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway talks us through a practice that focuses on the effective use of possession, showing the kind of positive attacking play that has earned the Seasiders almost universal admiration this season.
03 Ian Holloway BLACKPOOL
Premier League g possession sion 05 Dougie Freedman CRYSTAL PALACE E
Supporting rtiing eep p from deep 07
Our contribution from the npower Championship comes from recently appointed Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman, who demonstrates how deep positions can augment and energise strike forces. Terry Skiverton, of Yeovil Town, deals with overloads in key forward areas, while Lincoln City boss Steve Tilson offers a passing exercise which clearly focuses on precision. LMA Ambassador Iain Dowie has a close look at important relationships between back four positions, and in conclusion, Spurs coach Anthony Hudson has developed a varied practice involving slick technical passing and movement, so typical of Tottenham this season at their best. I am sure you’ll find all our offerings of real benefit to your coaching and training armoury and look forward to bringing more your way next month.
Howard Wilkinson LMA Chairman
Te Terry Sk Skiverton YEOVIL TOWN YEO
Ov Overload at attacking 09 Steve Tilson LINCOLN CITY
Passing patterns
11 Iain Dowie LMA AMBASSADOR
Elite Soccer is a monthly publication for professional, semi-professional and aspiring soccer coaches and is available by subscription only. £97 for 12 issues. To subscribe email duncanh@greenstarmedia.net or call on +44 (0) 1483 892 894
Back four understanding 13 Anthony Hudson TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Technical training www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
BLACKPOOL
Ian Holloway Premier League possession
PREMIER LEAGUE POSSESSION: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
60x40 yards EQUIPMENT
Overview:
Cones, balls
This multifunctional, directional session is about game-realistic play, positive moves and developing short and long passes. It is important to practise this because possession is key at any level of the game, but particularly in the Premier League where sides can be so ruthless when they have the ball. This session encourages players to receive play sideon as they cannot attack the same end zone twice in a row, while defenders have opportunities to tackle and turn over possession. We have technically gifted players at Blackpool, so keeping possession is one of the strengths we work around and try to enhance. We work on this session at least once a week.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
“Possession is key at any level of the game in the Premier League where sides can be so ruthless when they have the ball.� 3 MARCH 2011
18 (6v6 with 6 neutral players)
What do I get the players to do? Played with a 15-yard channel at either end featuring three neutral players, this is a 6v6 game in the middle of the pitch. The ball starts with a yellow defender. His team must combine to work a pass through to the opposite end zone, in doing so they score a point. End zone players have two touches to get the ball back out to the team who made the scoring pass (in this case the yellows), though one opposing player (a blue) can go into the end zone attempting to overturn possession. Assuming the neutral players do their jobs, yellows now attack the opposite end zone. If a tackle is made at any point, blues assume attacking responsibility and look to feed a pass into the opposite end zone to score themselves. This is a high-intensity game. After three minutes, players should be rotated so that they switch positions and roles. And when the ball goes out of bounds, encourage players to adopt a different starting position.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Yellow players attack the far end zone
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A point is scored and possession is maintained with an attack coming back the other way
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
They successfully move play to the opposite end
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PREMIER LEAGUE POSSESSION: PROGRESSION
Ian Holloway BLACKPOOL Ian Holloway is the enigmatic manager of Barclays Premier League side Blackpool. The Seasiders proved to be the surprise package in England’s top division during the first half of the 2010/11 season, playing a brand of ambitious attacking football that led them to shock victories against the likes of Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Liverpool twice. Holloway has been in charge at Bloomfield Road since May 2009, and guided the club to Championship play-off final victory over Cardiff City last season. The popular manager has also taken charge at Bristol Rovers, QPR, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City. As a player, Holloway was a tough-tackling midfielder who clocked up almost 600 senior appearances for Bristol Rovers, Brentford, Wimbledon, QPR and Torquay United, before retiring in 1999 at the age of 36.
“When the ball goes out of bounds, encourage players to adopt a different starting position.” 4 MARCH 2011
W What are the key tthings to look fo for technically/ tactically? We look for players to want the ball, and with it, responsibility. When out of possession, they should be encouraged and prepared to receive it under pressure, and when in possession, they should be comfortable in conducting a slick and precise passing game. This is a multidirectional session, so when the ball comes back the other way players must be able to receive it on the half-turn and quickly play it towards the other zone. Defenders closing down quickly make this gamerealistic, with all players being open to both short and long passes.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A blue defender presses play in the end zone forcing the neutral man to deliver a long ball to the opposite end zone
2
How do I progress the session? There are many ways in which we progress the session. Firstly, the player who passes into the end zone swaps places with the receiver, meaning players are being rotated in their positions. Neutral players can also adopt a stronger grip on the game, with the ability to punish defenders who push too far upfield by playing long overhead passes to the other team of neutral players. In addition, we can also limit the number of touches allowed.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Following the pass between neutrals, yellows retain possession and build again
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A tackle sees the blues now utilise the neutral players
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CRYSTAL PALACE
Dougie Freedman Supporting from deep Overview: This session is about forward runs and the ability of players to work at pace, supporting from deep or getting beyond a front striker to attack danger areas. For teams looking to build attacking play, intelligent forward running is essential, as is the timing and execution of those breaks. Players must also work to vary passes into feet with balls into space. It would be fair to say we see this dynamic forward play, and the way players break upfield in support, paying off in every game, since it is at the heart of supporting attacking moves. We believe it is something that
“We see this dynamic forward play paying off in every game, since it is at the heart of supporting attacking moves.” 5 MARCH 2011
SUPPORTING FROM DEEP: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
¾ of the pitch EQUIPMENT
Balls, cones, goals NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Full squad
What do I get the players to do? It’s important to rehearse types of runs, unopposed. A peeled run (A) sees players running off the shoulder of a defender; a blindside run (B) looks to attack out of the vision of a marker; while runs from deep (C) are direct and through the middle. We put these running techniques into a game session, creating an 80x50 yard playing area, with a 10-yard zone in front of the goal at each end. The match is 10v10, including goalkeepers, with all players starting in the half that the yellow team attacks. There are two neutral floating players off the pitch who can support attacking moves from either team. The ball is served to a yellow player. His team combines to lay off a pass to the target man, using peeled, blindside or other runs to receive the ball back and fashion a shot at goal. If they succeed, or if play is turned over, the blue team takes possession. Blues attack the other goal, but their target player begins on the halfway line. The team does not have to use this outlet, though
1
A
C
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
B
Players rehearse supporting runs, unopposed
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In the game situation, the target man must be ready for his approaching team mates
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
He lays the ball off for his support player to run on to and score
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SUPPORTING FROM DEEP: PROGRESSION
Dougie Freedman CRYSTAL PALACE Dougie Freedman is one of the Football League’s newest managers having moved into the Crystal Palace hotseat in January of this year. The former striker was already caretaker manager at Selhurst Park, and in stepping up to the full manager’s role he brought with him a wealth of experience, having served the south London club faithfully as a player for a decade. On the pitch, Freedman made 368 appearances for Palace scoring 108 goals, as well as enjoying spells at Barnet, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Southend United. He also earned two international caps with Scotland.
“Support play varies between runs in behind, blindside runs, peeled runs, plus overlaps and underlaps.” 6 MARCH 2011
because yellows are prevented from moving into the other half to tackle back, blues only have three touches before shooting at goal. After the attack, play is restarted with the yellow team on the halfway line. We play this for four sets of eight minutes.
1
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? In technical terms, we look for confident passing with balls being played into feet, at varying heights and with good accuracy. Players also need to hit space, ensuring a weight and angle of pass that makes running on to the ball easy. We encourage a variation of aerial and grounded assists. In tactical terms, we rely on the awareness and intelligence of our players, as support play varies between runs in behind, blindside runs, peeled runs, plus overlaps and underlaps. All of these moves require supporting from deep with good timing, clever angles, and an appreciation of distance, both from the ball player and towards the goal.
How do I progress the session? We progress by allowing yellow defenders to now pursue the blue breakaway moves. Should they regain possession, they attack the other goal.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The blue team break unopposed in the other half and are allowed three touches to score
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Progressing the session allows defenders back to tackle
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The ball is set back for a shot on goal though yellow players have recovered well
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
YEOVIL TOWN
Terry Skiverton Overload attacking
OVERLOAD ATTACKING: MAIN SESSION
SET-UP AREA
40x20 yards
Overview:
EQUIPMENT
This session is based on a smallsided game with overloads producing overlapping attacking play. It’s a great session for attackers and defenders and is played at high intensity, because this promotes a competitive edge in training. The tight playing area is good for concentration levels, with strikers encouraged to work for angles and develop proficient timing of runs and passes. At Yeovil Town, we will work on this session once a week and frequently witness the rewards in matches. In this season’s FA Cup, we went 2-0 up in our second round match at Hartlepool United when Ed Upson successfully utilised the type of overlapping overload as practised in this move, to finish well past the goalkeeper.
Ball, cones, goals
“We are looking for the team of three to get a man on the overlap.” 7 MARCH 2011
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
12 (2 teams of 6)
What do I get the players to do? With a target goal at each end, we begin with a 3v2 scenario. The orange team of three starts from the defensive ‘dead ball’ line, attacking with an overload and looking to score in the goal protected by the yellow team. If a yellow player wins possession, play goes back the other way. If an orange player shoots, whether successful or not in scoring, he leaves the playing area. His teammates on the pitch are now defenders. The two yellows also leave the area to be replaced by three team mates – these are now attackers; with play switching back in the other direction as a new 3v2 attacking overload. After each successive shot on goal, or if the ball goes out of play, players leave and join the area in a continuous roundrobin format. We play this for three rounds of four minutes.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The orange team attacks and scores with a 3v2 overload
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A switch of players means yellows are now the attacking force
3
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? When on the attack, we are looking for the team of three to get a man on the overlap because this is a great
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
After the yellow attacker has burst forward, play is switched, as are personnel
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
OVERLOAD ATTACKING: PROGRESSION
Terry Skiverton YEOVIL TOWN Terry Skiverton has been manager of npower League One side Yeovil Town since February 2009. A determined and faithful servant as a player, Skiverton made over 350 appearances for the Glovers in the heart of the defence, after earlier spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Welling United. Upon landing the role at Huish Park, the former Chelsea trainee’s impact as a manager was as impressive as it had been as Club captain, securing back-to-back survival campaigns for the Somerset club despite operating with one of the division’s smallest wage bills. In his playing days, Skiverton performed an influential role in Yeovil’s rise from non-league to the brink of the Championship, leading the club to the Conference and League Two title, as well as scooping the FA Trophy. He began his coaching career with Yeovil as coach of the Under-15 Academy side before taking charge of the first-team.
rehearsal for counterattacking play and instinctive finishing. The player on the ball should always run at the opposition so as to draw a defender in, enabling team-mates to overload against one remaining defender. If the defender chooses to drop off, the attacker can shoot himself. A defender’s priority is to try to show opposition players wide, narrowing potential shooting angles. Decisionmaking must be swift and exact, and the more a defender tightens play, the more time he creates for himself and his team mate.
How do I progress the session? We add in an extra player on each team to make the practice more difficult for attackers, since they have only 33% more players in a 4v3, compared to 50% in a 3v2. To make it more difficult for defenders, we increase the playing area, offering greater scope for attackers looking to use and break into space, both on the wings and in behind the defence.
How would you put this into a game situation? We finish the session with an 8v8 game on a pitch measuring 60x40 yards, with no keepers. Players must illustrate the use of overloads and overlaps as rehearsed. 8 MARCH 2011
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Adding additional players makes the defenders' job easier
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Increasing the playing area means more space for attackers to exploit
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Rehearsed overloads and overlaps should be evident in the 8v8 game that completes the session
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LINCOLN CITY
Steve Tilson Passing patterns
PASSING PATTERNS: MAIN SESSION
SET-UP AREA
20x20 yards
Overview:
EQUIPMENT
This session works on players’ ability to play one-two passing moves in order to create space and to get in behind the opposition’s defence. The practice is comprised of initial unopposed passing drills which familiarise players with movement, awareness and link-up play, before progressing to a competitive 8v8 game. The entire session lasts 75 minutes and is broken down into 20 minutes of passing patterns and a 55-minute game.
Balls, cones
“Players must pass with good pace and direction, and should be equally comfortable switching onto left or right feet.” 9 MARCH 2011
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
8
1
What do I get the players to do? Between opposite diagonal corners, we place two cones in the middle of the area, five yards apart. There are two teams of four, with two players from each starting on a central cone, facing out towards their two team mates in the corner. From each corner, a pass is made, then followed into the middle. The first player on the central cone passes the ball back to the second corner player, who passes back to the middle and so on. We experiment with one-touch and two-touch passing, switching between the two, but every pass must always be followed. When players are comfortable, we progress the move by instructing each receiving middle player to turn to his left on his first touch before passing the ball out to the other corner. After a few minutes, we switch the turn to the right, ensuring the move remains at a high tempo throughout. Progressing further, one of the two central players on each team now becomes an ‘edge player’, meaning he moves into space to the
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Players make one-two passes to and from the corners, following each pass
2
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The player on the central cone turns to feed a pass to the opposite corner
3
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
An additional wide man helps construct a more intricate 'pass and go' move
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PASSING PATTERNS: MAIN SESSION
Steve Tilson LINCOLN CITY Steve Tilson has been manager of Lincoln City since October 2010, having previously enjoyed seven largely successful years in charge of Southend United. There, he took the Roots Hall outfit from League Two to the Championship, at the same time developing a crop of excellent young players, including Freddy Eastwood and Gary Hooper. In a period of considerable success for Southend, Tilson masterminded three appearances at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium as well as a 1-0 League Cup win over Manchester United. At Lincoln, he has recently guided the Imps away from the npower League Two drop places after a superb run of six wins in seven matches.
right of the central cone. Now, the remaining player on the cone plays a short one-two with the corner server, who then feeds a pass to the edge player. The edge player spins and plays a ball into the opposite half, which is picked up by the cone player who completes a pass to the other corner. Each player follows his pass, with the exception of the edge player who now takes up the place on the cone. This move can be started from both corners at the same time.
10 MARCH 2011
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The move is played in both directions and both halves of the playing area
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? Players must pass with good pace and direction, and should be equally comfortable switching onto left or right feet. Good, intelligent movement is essential if teams are to create the space necessary to play onetwos.
How would you put this into a game situation?
“We experiment with onetouch and two-touch passing, switching between the two.”
4
In a 40x30 yard area we play 8v8. A team scores a point when two players make a simple one-two pass around an opponent. We enhance this game by adding 5-yard end zones, into which two players from each team move. A point is scored with each received ball in the end zone, though a one-two pass around an opposition player must have been made in the immediate leadup to the scoring pass.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A simple one-two earns the red team a point in the small-sided game
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Progressing, the point is now earned when the end zone player receives a pass after the initial one-two
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LMA AMBASSADOR
Iain Dowie Back four understanding Overview: This overview session is about the responsibilities of the back four, and how they use distance, movement and angles in order to produce a formidable defensive unit. This is an important session for improving confidence, because a proficient defensive base acts as a springboard for the whole team, not least in a side’s ability to counter-attack well. More and more in the Premier League, successful sides are shown to be the ones able to break forward from defence at pace, but a solid backline must be established first.
“Successful sides are the ones able to break forward from defence at pace, but a solid backline must be established first.” 11 MARCH 2011
BACK FOUR UNDERSTANDING: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
40x30 yards EQUIPMENT
Balls, goals, poles NUMBER OF PLAYERS
12 (8 reds, 4 whites)
1
What do I get the players to do? Across three channels of 10 yards, two lines of four reds sandwich a line of white defenders. The ball starts with a red; his team’s aim is to thread a pass through the line of white players to a fellow red. To prevent that happening, the whites must retain solid defensive shape at all times, using a blocking player. This member of the back four steps forward whenever his opposite number is in possession of the ball. The blocking player’s team mates move in to cover the line of possible throughpasses to the other bank of four reds. The blocking player must not chase the ball, and if it gets switched to a different red, he drops back and lets another designated team mate step forward. Defenders can allow passes down the left and right channels. If a ball makes it to the other bank of reds, defenders turn and repeat the task.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
As the ball is moved along the line, the back four work as one to block the lead attacker and his passing lines
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Attackers play a quick pass, missing out a man and releasing a ball down the channel
3
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? The defensive line never chases the ball,
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Defenders turn and react well to an attempted through-pass www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
BACK FOUR UNDERSTANDING: GAME SITUATION
Iain Dowie LMA AMBASSADOR Iain Dowie is a vastly successful English football player and manager who, most recently, was in charge of Hull City in the Barclays Premier League. The 46-year-old was a talented striker in his playing days, although he joined the professional game late, landing at Luton Town as a 23-year-old in 1988. He went on to play for Fulham, West Ham United, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and QPR – plus clocked up 59 caps for Northern Ireland – before having up his boots in 2001. Management roles followed at Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, QPR and Hull. Memorably, he led Palace into the Premiership in 2004 despite inheriting a team battling against relegation. The Eagles went up via the playoffs, finishing sixth after winning 17 of their final 23 games. Dowie was also assistant manager at Newcastle United under Alan Shearer before accepting the job at Hull City. He departed the KC Stadium in 2010.
12 MARCH 2011
but must ‘recover on the diagonal’ – in effect, moving towards the blocking defender so as to cover all other passing angles. The attitude of the backline in staying alert, keeping organised and communicating well is essential. Distance and angle are crucial – if either of these are wrong then the whole back four set-up is compromised. Defenders must move with the ball, squeeze, hold shape and be ready to drop onto the back foot, without ever going to ground.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The same defensive line operates well in the small-sided game to stifle attacking progress
How would you put this into a game situation? We play on a half-pitch extended lengthways by 20 yards. A team of 10 attack 8 (plus a goalkeeper) with the aim of scoring in a central goal. The team of 8 must attack two goals, 5 yards wide, marked out by poles in the corners of the pitch. If in producing wing attacks, the reds force a full-back into a covering position away from the back four, look for a white defensive midfielder to step back in to reform a solid organised backline. This small-sided game is challenging because both teams are creating alternative angles of attack, given that one team is aiming at a central target while the other is directing play towards the flanks.
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
With the full-back called out wide, a defensive midfielder drops back to reaffirm the back four's line
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A tackle and break forward ends with the red defence similarly reactive to the threat www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Anthony Hudson Technical training session Overview: This is a broad training session that enables players to practise a range of skills across multiple exercises. It rehearses ball skills in terms of tidy, quick and intelligent passing, plus finishing in and around the box. It’s also excellent for movement, closing down and positional awareness. These ranges of skills are essential for any footballer. It is important to practise these because the scenarios in which players will need to display these skills occur regularly during games.
“This is a broad training session that enables players to practise a range of skills across multiple exercises.” 13 MARCH 2011
TECHNICAL TRAINING: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
Training pitch EQUIPMENT
Ball, cones, goals, poles NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Full squad
1
What do I get the players to do? We practise a range of short drills… Box Passing We mark out a 6x6 yard area using four cones. Playing 4v1, we rotate the defending player, who must chase and close down, looking to win possession. Technical Warm-Up In a larger 20x20 yard area, we arrange five players to construct a technical passing move. Cones are placed on two diagonal corners, with a further three positioned just in from one of the other corners. Players construct a passing pattern in and around the box – yellow passes to blue and follows his pass, blue performs consecutive one-two passes with red before passing to grey and taking up red’s position. Grey plays one-twos with red, and those two players switch positions before the move is reversed and played back in the other direction. A white player assumes yellow’s original start position to complete the move. Clever Turns We use five players and a passing diamond measuring 10x10 yards. An initial one-two pass along the side is made before the ball is set
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Box Passing The defender looks to win possession in a simple passing square
2
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Technical Warm-up Yellow, blue and red players pass and move around the playing area
3
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Red and grey players complete the move before the routine is reversed www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
TECHNICAL TRAINING: PROGRESSION
Anthony Hudson TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Anthony Hudson is part of the coaching team at Barclays Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. The son of former Chelsea and England star Alan Hudson, he started his playing career at West Ham United before moving on to Luton Town and Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. Progressing into the coaching side of the game, he became Assistant Head Coach of United Soccer Leagues team Wilmington Hammerheads, before landing the Real Maryland manager’s job at the age of just 27, the youngest coach in the USL. After a successful time in the States, Hudson returned to the UK, and despite being linked with the manager’s post at Scottish sides Hibernian and Aberdeen, has proved himself to be a valuable addition to Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff at Tottenham.
“We look for the disguising of passes, with the use of subtle reverse passes, turns and flicks.” 14 MARCH 2011
outside the cone for the receiving player to turn onto. He then side-foots the ball along the next line, waits for a onetwo, then follows his pass. Players progress around the passing diamond. Short Attacks We mark out a 36x20 playing area, with a goal at each end and add a halfway line – offside applies at this point. This is a 2v1 attack versus defence game, with one attacker and one defender positioned at the halfway line (though in their own halves), and another attacker on the far dead ball line. One attacker lays the ball into the feet of the other; the two must combine, attempting to score in the goal. If the defender wins the ball, he can shoot. Keep changing the defensive player and progress this to 3v2. The three attacking players cannot all be in the attacking half at any one time.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Clever Turns After a one-two sequence, the corner player receives the ball outside the cone
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The ball moves around the area as players follow their passes
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? In all of these drills, players must be firm in their positions yet able to move quickly. We look for the disguising of passes with the use of subtle reverse balls, turns and flicks. Movement off the ball and away from opponents is crucial, while the Short Attacks game rehearses all-out finishing, technique, placement and power.
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Short Attacks Here, in the advanced 3v2 game, a variety of passing and movement options are offered when exploiting unmarked areas
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